Wai Wai Nu
Scholar Wai Wai Nu from Columbia University Scholars 2019-2020.
Founder and Executive Director, Women Peace Network, Founder, Yangon Youth Leadership Center
MYANMAR
Wai Wai Nu emerged from seven years as a political prisoner to become a human rights advocate and the founder of two organizations. Through the Women Peace Network, Wai Wai works to build peace and mutual understanding between Myanmar’s ethnic communities and to empower and advocate for the rights of marginalized women throughout Myanmar, and particularly in Rakhine State. Her work also aims to reduce discrimination and hatred among Buddhist and Muslim communities and to improve the human rights of the Rohingya people. To engage youth in the peacebuilidng process, Wai Wai founded the Yangon Youth Center—a space where young people from diverse backgrounds can come together to learn, share, and explore their ideas and promote leadership in social, political, and peace-building policy making.